So with it being the cold weather months again, what's everyone's favorite shad style crankbaits? The #5 Shad Rap and Glass Rap, #6 Storm Smash Shad, and the impossible to find Duo Shad 62DR are my favorites but with 2 of those 4 getting hard to find I'm looking for other options.

Share on other sites

The Bagley Balsa Shads are great lure. A bit pricy but worth a look at. Not sure what you mean by finesse shad. The Bagley are one size as far as I’ve been able to buy. I enjoy fishing the Shad style baits, on a typical day of throwing them I fish a wide range of patterns, sizes, manufactures and jointed versions. I love how the jointed versions of the Rapalas will catch fish on a tough bite day. They seem to always make something happen.

12 minutes ago, Tizi said:

Berkley Bad Shad has worked well for me, in Perch.

I have to agree with that 100% also. The flicker shads is a decent Shad but I find I have to tune them almost all the time when new. Look into some Strike Kings. A bit tough to find. But you should be able to set yourself up with a good amount of quality shads.

Can't really help you there. My all time favorite is an old slow-rising, Tom Seward-designed Natural-Ike, that I "bluegill-ized". I only have 2 left! ...

Its funny you mentioned that, yesterday I tied on the only Natural Ike I have left. It is the smaller size than the one in your picture with the bass pattern imprinted on it, circa 1978 or so. I find it effective for about 6 weeks starting in December, our winter as far as the bass are concerned.

There are some Natural Ikes available on Ebay, some are priced fairly, others are too high. I keep telling myself to buy a couple before I lose mine...

Its funny you mentioned that, yesterday I tied on the only Natural Ike I have left. It is the smaller size than the one in your picture with the bass pattern imprinted on it, circa 1978 or so. I find it effective for about 6 weeks starting in December, our winter as far as the bass are concerned.

There are some Natural Ikes available on Ebay, some are priced fairly, others are too high. I keep telling myself to buy a couple before I lose mine...

Yeah, it's a great plug. One left! I've looked on e-bay some but they've been pretty pricey.

11 hours ago, scaleface said:

My favorite use to be the Suspending Rebel Shad R .I tried throwing the Shad Raps and it was like casting a potato chip .

I actually have one of those, but it's the... stable high speed version designed for trolling. I also have some Cordell shads, some Daiwa's, and some Salmo shads. They remain dry as long as the Ikes are still with me. I tend to pack the Ike's and a couple Shad Raps. Ditto the 1/4oz lipless.

Lol... that's what I call the "Shad" style CBs: "Potato Chips" bc, my waters don't have many shad, and bc of the way they can "potato chip" against the wind, if I just throw them up in the air. If I release a touch later, they are more apt to "airfoil". I've also weighted some of my Shad-Raps to slow their rise, which helps a bit in the casting.

A smaller shad profile bait, lighter than a standard crankbait, probably going to fish them on a spinning rod and 8lb test.

My bad on that one. This is the majority of my Crankbait fishing. Just never associated as finesse. But you are correct not only associated with worm and soft plastic fishing. I remove and respool mucho yards of 6# - 8# mono and Fluor over the course of a season. Thanks, good fishing.